Marine Protected Areas

Our ambitious goal is to protect 10% of the ocean by 2020, and 20% by 2030.

The ocean is not just one uniform expanse of water, there are many diverse and unique places in the ocean that are different than any other place in the world. There are forests where algae grow as tall as redwood trees, deep sea coral reefs live hundreds of years, and seamounts provide foraging hotspots for whales, turtles and fishes.

Many places in US waters rival the beauty and diversity of some of our cherished national parks on land, such as Yellowstone, the Everglades, and the Grand Canyon. These parks are held in trust and set aside for the greater good so that their beauty and wonder can be experienced by anyone who wishes to see them for generations yet to come.

The concept of protecting areas in the sea is relatively new to scientists and policy makers alike, and we are still learning how to best manage these areas to balance human use and maintain healthy ecosystems. Research from protected areas throughout the world, notably the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, has clearly demonstrated the value of protected areas to enhancing marine life as the protection that was put in place years ago is now resulting in thriving ecosystems.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are some of the simplest of marine management tools that can offer some of the highest gains in terms of marine conservation. By removing some uses from a marine environment, certain ecosystems can regain their actual function, populations can be bolstered and habitats protected. Currently, MPAs cover barely more than 1 percent of the world’s oceans. Marine Conservation Institute's ambitious goal is to protect 10% of the ocean by 2020, and 20% by 2030.

From Sea to Shining Sea
Few of us realize that the US possesses huge expanses of underwater real estate. At 4.4 million square miles, the ocean floor under US jurisdiction is 25% larger than the US landmass. America's ocean realm is a rich mosaic of places, from icy fjords to tropical coral reefs, from sunlit shallows to lightless depths. Explore the underwater mountains, canyons, and wildlife that make US waters so wonderful and amazing.